[dylan604]

Exactly. Imagine your DMV experiences but applied to this. Then again, based on stories like this, private seems to be even worse. Even the DMV has human interaction possible after demoralizing wait times unlike shouting into blackholes that is FAANG support

[throwaway946513]

Missouri resident here. DOR (Department of Revenue is also the DMV in Missouri) wait times while long recently, haven't been anywhere as terrible as everyone makes it out to be. Appointments are available (can truly only speak for my local office, which is in the largest city in the state) and my wait time never exceeded fifteen minutes. Additionally, to process said paperwork only took five minutes when I was at the counter.

Each of the people at the DMV have been helpful for me when I got custom plates, titled a car, renewed my license, etc. Only one time did I have to make a trip home to get missing documentation due to extenuating circumstances.

[NikolaNovak]

I love to doodoo on dmv / dot experience out of habit and cultural inertia, but in reality, my local Service Ontario is GREAT. Most of the time line ups are manageable; but most importantly, I get to talk to somebody who is obligated and typically willing to help me out and point me in right direction. Worst case scenario, I can come again and talk to another person.

It is THAT final resort that's not even an option with so many large companies. Sure there are people who will t fall through cracks, legitimate horror stories, but at least there's an option and obligation and intent.

[dylan604]

I never said the human interaction part of the experience was bad. I specifically stated the wait times. Since everyone wants to share personal anecdotes, then in my neck of the woods in Texas, the state has moved from small regionally located DMV offices in favor of centralized extremely large megastore types of places that they push people to visit. Even when making an appointment online, you still wait an incredibly long amount of time in this massive incubator of a holding area. The last time I visited was before COVID, and I was already concerned about the petri dish level of experiment that was the waiting area.

The DMV trope exists for reasons. Sadly, you may not be able to relate, but it doesn't diminish the validity for those that do. (sadly, here, being used ironically)

[_jal]

Tangent, but using the DMV as a horror-cliche anchor is very state-specific.

I have experience with DMVs in six states. Five of those have always been perfectly fine, nothing to complain about. If I'm competent enough to get my paperwork right, it is just a 15 minute process. New York and California even take appointments, no waiting.

I got my license way back when in Tennessee, and they were incompetent jerks, and that's because Tennessee's entrenched political class goes out of its way to make sure government services suck.

[technothrasher]

The Massachusetts RMV used to be horrendous, but they've cleaned themselves up a lot. I've had little issue getting things done over the past decade or so. Now that they've instituted appointments because of covid, it's even quicker. I hope they never go back. The only thing that is still really broken is their phone system. It's so hard to get anybody on the phone, it's really not worth even trying.

[oauea]

> Tangent, but using the DMV as a horror-cliche anchor is very state-specific.

And very America-focused. Never had any issues at all with our local equivalent.

[dylan604]

assuming "our" is non-American, but non-American is a really large place. ;-) care to narrow it down?

[JJMcJ]

California used to be bad, but the appointments have really helped.

Also, the people who actually work at the DMV are pretty helpful, but they are way overworked. Once again, this is in California.

[nopenopenopeno]

The United States government, as well as the provincial state governments within it, are governed more by corporate boards than by the citizens who think they are participating in a democracy. This is not a secret. There is no such thing as a public institution in the United States.